Entries in celebration
(31)

Live in the DC/Baltimore area?Need something fun to do New Year's Eve day with the kids?Join the band MILKSHAKE at the Maryland Science Center today,December 31, 2008 from 10:00am to 2:00pm for a great start to the New Year!

Photo by Steve Parke

I was just on the MILKSHAKE website and the Twofer started dancing right away to the songs from the Play!cd. Now MILKSHAKE has released their first DVD, Screen Play, featuring live action videos, animations and backstage interviews with the band. Bonus tracks include two videos created for PBS KIDS, and in-concert footage of the Noggin hit "Bottle of Sunshine".Check out MILKSHAKE today at the Maryland Science Center and check back here soon for the opportunity to WIN a MILKSHAKE prize package!

While I am truly grateful to be able to spend Christmas and quality time with my family, so much time together can often mean losing it one way, or another.

Here's the short list:

Em losing it outside in the cold and refusing to go inside the last rest stop of our 8-hour trip up. "I....don't...have....to...pee!"

Me losing it Christmas Eve when the kids woke me up at 4:30am for the third time that night... "I'm just as excited as you that Santa came but...but...if you don't get to sleep you'll have a houseful of really cranky parents!!!"Grammy losing it when she got an iPod for Christmas, "Oh no! Another thing I'm going to have to learn how to use!?!?"

The Twofer losing it in very silly way on the train to NYC after a few days with very little sleep.

And the entire family losing it after spending all day inside, and in our pajamas....

I was laughing so hard while filming this that tears were streaming down my face and my stomach hurt. I wonder if anyone else finds this funny or if it's just our family?

Have you lost it yet? If so, let me know in the comments (by 10:00am Eastern Time on 12/31/08). The best 'losing it' comment will be re-enacted using my family and my Flip. I'll email you the final product soon thereafter!

A girl dressed up as Pocahontas came to the bridal suite and I thought she was going to sing...but she was there to do my makeup.Drag queens dressed my dad in earrings and a feather boa while they waited for the stylists to finish with my bridal party.

A woman dressed as a bride showed me around the ballroom so I could see the tables all set up.

ScaryMom and "other" Halloween bride

The cocktail hour became cocktail 2 hours because the food was great, the jazz music was soothing, and everyone was enjoying it.

My new husband twirled me around the dance floor like a pro and we nailed the dip at the end.

Dancing with the stars

My dad gave the most heartwarming, sentimental, and tear jerking toast...to my mother, "his bride of 32 years".I did my best Tina moves on stage with the band when they sang "Proud Mary".

My husband got up and danced with the band when they played "The Way You Do the Things You Do" - Jerry Garcia style.

Masks of all kinds appeared around 11:00pm and I think people actually got up to do the Monster Mash.

A Jr. Monster

My 85 year old grandparents somehow agreed to come and enjoyed themselves. This was the last major trip of their lives.

I watched my dad do his signature dance move, "the mojo" one too many times.

Oh no, here comes the Mojo!

Really drunk trick-or-treaters hopped on the wedding busses that took the guests back to the hotel.A life-size cut-out of Austin Powers greeted people at the morning-after brunch, "Hello Baby!"

For me, it was the greatest weekend of my life. We spent too much money on it, but we have memories and stories to last a lifetime. People are still talking....

Happy Anniversary to us Mr. Scary! I love you.Mrs. ScaryMom

This post is dedicated to the only other man in my life, my Dad. He always loved a good party and lived his too-short life to the fullest. I miss him every day.

OK, so this is really cool. I came across this company on twittermoms and had to give them a little plug because it's such a cool idea!

I've mentioned before that kid's birthday parties (including my own bash for the twfoer) can often get over-the-top. And I can't even begin to think about how eco-UNfriendly that 5-year party was! Well ECHoage can help parents make their child’s party a little greener, a lot less messier, and helps engage ALL participants in a discussion about giving.Plus, the birthday boys and girls are loving it because they get to pick one or two BIG gifts and they FEEL GOOD about their choices.Here’s the scoop:When you sign up to ECHOage your party you pick an online invitation design, pick a charity, and invite your guests. Guests are encouraged to give a secure online gift of money instead of a wrapped present when they RSVP. ECHOage then pools the payments and sends half to the charity you chose. The other half is sent back to you to purchase one BIG gift for your child.

Here's why I find this so attractive (and y'all know how I love to make lists)

Guests have the opportunity to learn about charity and the gift of giving to others instead of bringing a wrapped present.

Birthday boys and girls get to choose which charity will benefit from their generosity and leaves them with a really good feeling.

Secure online giving is easy and parents don’t have to shop, wrap or remember a gift (yea! no more leaving the gift on the kitchen table!).

Host parents can choose to include their child in choosing the BIG gift, or surprise them at the party!

Resistance?ECHOage has thought of just about every concern too so check out their FAQs if you are considering an ECHOage party. Even if you aren’t ready to have an ECHOage party, they have great language to use when you sit down and start talking to your kids about charity and what it means to give.

Here’s a big Twofer Thumbs Up to ECHOage for the One Gift-One Cause birthday party option!

Birthday parties have become mini adventures for my kids. One weekend it’s a princess tea party including dress-up, makeup and fashion show. The next weekend it’s breaking boards at a karate party.

What ever happened to some games, some cake, and then watching the birthday boy/girl open presents? I remember THAT WAS the entertainment.

I have to admit that I am guilty of elaborate parties including Elmo, pony rides, and DJs.And I have to admit that a part of me is thrilled the Twofer gets to try so many different things at the expense of someone else (oh please, so are you). Each new experience has left them with a huge smile, and for the most part, a good boost to their self-confidence. Trying new things even when you don’t want to, or are afraid, is a good thing.

Last weekend was no exception. The Twofer was invited to a climbing party at Earth Treks. M flat out refused to even look at the climbing wall. I didn’t push and simply said she needed to be friendly and wish our host a happy birthday…but we were staying. L, as usual, was shy but definitely wanted in on the action.

L taking on some vertical

L donned a hardhat, harness and web of rope and proceeded to stick her fingers and toes onto little nooks and crannies and climb up a fake, 2-story rock wall.

As usual, M’s twin-competitive streak in her won out and she got in that climbing gear quicker than you can say “listenmissy”.

M having changed her mind

She charmed her way to the front of the line and she was up that wall about 4 feet and said, “I’m ready to come down now!”

Well after 3 tries, both girls reached the top of that 2-story wall and I didn’t even have a heart attack. Of course, they were assisted (and safely tethered) by some very nice Earth Treks guys who tried to get me up there. Sorry, my thighs were not meant to be pinched and squeezed into those straps and I don’t need people staring up at my, um, padunk-adunk.

(The best part? The grandmother wanted to try climbing and I got to wear her huge diamond! Karma baby.)

Meemaw's Rocks on my pinky

Last time we hung with this particular boy the girls were tied to a rope and standing on a board about 50 yards from the back of his parents motorboat. Yes, some call it water skiing. I call it starting your 4 year old on the path to the X Games. So I made the mom promise me, No skydiving parties!

Have you thrown or taken your kid to a unique birthday party? Break it down for me (please, 200 words or less) in the comment section (by Friday 10/10/08) and you'll be entered to win a drawing for a Shrinky Dinks book from Klutz!

(Comments left after Friday are appreciated but won't qualify for the drawing.)